EU Court Adviser
Criticizes Judges
Over 2002 Ruling

BRUSSELS -- European judges overstepped their authority in a 2002 decision that embarrassed European antitrust regulators, said a legal adviser to Europe's top court -- giving a timely boost to regulators as they face legal challenges to their high-profile cases against General Electric Co. and Microsoft Corp.

The opinion by Advocate General Antonio Tizzano doesn't alter the original 2002 case, which involved Swiss beverage-packaging...